ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh made it quite clear on Tuesday that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh would no visit Pakistan this year.

When Mr Singh was asked about likely timeframe for the Indian premier’s visit to Pakistan at a press conference, he said: “We hope that the visit will take place sooner rather than later.” He recalled that Dr Singh had accepted the invitation to visit Pakistan, extended to him by President Musharraf sometime back.

However, when asked if Dr Singh’s Pakistan visit would take place sometime this year, the minister turned around and said what was left of the year, indicating that the visit would not take place in 2005.

According to informed diplomatic sources, the Indian prime minister will most likely visit Pakistan early next year.—QA